FEBRUARY 6, 1942

CHICAGO, Thursday —I did a little work yesterday on the train and wrote a few letters which
I hope may be readable. I rather doubt that they will be, because, at best, my handwriting
is none too legible, and when I add the movement of a train it becomes very like the
scrawl of a very uncertain fly.

At Chattanooga, Tenn
.
, I got out and walked up and down the platform and watched with interest a lady who
was also taking the air, attired in white silk slacks and a mink coat. Later on, while
we were eating dinner, two young girls came into our drawing room. They were on their
way from Miami, Florida, and I imagine that a good many people are returning from
visits to what should have been a warmer climate. In any case, these two girls were
tanned, which spoke well for the warmth of the sun, even though they insisted that
the air had been chilly. They were autograph hunting and, having stalked their game,
retired contentedly.

The conductor gave us an opportunity to come out of our den to see the Chickamauga
Dam. We both came to this dam with the President and a tremendous crowd when it was
dedicated on a very warm day. I can still remember Governor Cooper's mother standing
in the sun. Everyone, tried to find chairs for her and for me, while the ceremonies
went on. The view of the dam was much better today and I was interested to see the
little boats which are on 24 hour patrol duty to make sure that no harm comes to this
particular source of power.

When we were not eating, working or writing, I read two issues of the "Saturday Evening
Post
."
In one of these in a good story by Clarence Buddington Kelland. I cannot help wondering
why anyone, who writes such nice fiction, should want to turn his talent to facts
or near-facts of the political world, but perhaps his talent for fiction is a help.

Then I read a very interesting copy of the "Survey Graphic
,"
an issue of "Liberty
,"
an issue of "Time" and some articles from the "Free World." One of these, on the
cost of life in the past few years of war, and the other on Hitler's criminal code,
made cold shivers run up and down my spine. How dare we be so wasteful of human beings?
It must seem to the great power above that we are presuming mightily on His
prerogatives
.

Not a very active day, but on the whole a pleasant one. I was just as sleepy last
night as though I had been out for a long day of exercise in the open air. Up early
this morning and spent a brief time at the hotel before starting for my visit to the
University of Illinois.